Traumatic injuries of the alimentary tract in children.

Traumatic alimentary tract (AT) perforations in children secondary to instrumentation, though rare, can occur at any age, especially in neonates and young infants. Awareness of such a possibility is essential for prompt management to be initiated. Over a 10-year period (1986-1995), eight pediatric patients with AT perforations secondary to instrumentation were managed at the American University of Beirut Medical Center. Five had upper AT injuries that included three hypopharyngeal, one esophageal, and one gastric lesion. The remaining three patients had lower AT injuries involving the transverse colon in one and the rectum in two. All the patients but two (one with a hypopharyngeal and one with an esophageal injury) were managed surgically and all survived. These rare injuries are discussed in addition to the preventive measures to be taken.